The best types of adhesives for laying extruded polystyrene foam

Expanded polystyrene is one of the most widely used materials for thermal insulation coating. Therefore, most often it is glued to the walls. It is important to choose the right adhesive. There are many types of glues for XPS foam, but it should be borne in mind that not all products on the market are suitable for outdoor and indoor use.

Special features of EPPS material

Extruded polystyrene foam is an expanded substance with increased density. This is its main difference from standard polystyrene - foam. To compact the material, it is passed through an extrusion device. The result is polymer plates filled with small air bubbles, characterized by high thermal insulation capacity.

The structure of expanded polystyrene panels is such that they adhere weakly to the adhesive. To solve the problem, manufacturers choose an adhesive with a high adhesive capacity.Such a substance is able to penetrate to a certain depth inside the foam board.

If you need to glue the EPSP and a certain surface of the building, do the following:

• for floor insulation, polystyrene is placed on expanded clay or other low-density base, concrete is poured on it;
• to insulate the foundation, polystyrene foam is glued to the basement concrete, fixed with fastening materials;
• to cover the roof, a bituminous layer is placed on the foam plates, you can also put the material inside the rafter system;
• to insulate the ceiling, polystyrene foam is placed on the attic floor, then concrete pouring or backfilling with stone chips is carried out.

How to choose an adhesive for polystyrene

When buying glue, you should read the information written on the package, since one product is suitable for connecting expanded polystyrene panels to each other, and the other to other surfaces.

On the packaging you should also see if there are any components in the composition that can corrode the structure of the insulation:

• acetone;
• toluene;
• alcohol substitutes;
• ethers;
• various solvents.

It is convenient to use spray glue to fix polystyrene foam. It is suitable for gluing on cardboard, plastic, metal, parquet. You can use liquid nails, silicone sealants, as well as products intended for laying tiles, drywall as an adhesive. But in this case, the structure must be fixed with dowels.

What varieties and brands are suitable?

A wide range of adhesives for expanded polystyrene is presented on the modern construction market.When buying a product, it is important to check that it is intended for outdoor or indoor coverage, that it is of high quality and durable.

Plaster and glue mix

A good option if you need to attach expanded polystyrene to a base of plasterboard, concrete, brick or cinder block. The material is sold in a dry form, so you need to make a liquid composition yourself. At the base of the glue, suitable for exterior and interior finishing works, there is a mineral part, Portland cement, a plasticizer.

The advantage of the composition is the ability to hide surface defects. The disadvantage is the obligatory prior priming of the base.

Ceresit CT-83

The popular brand is used to assemble polystyrene foam panels and attach them to all construction surfaces. The glue is sold in two forms: liquid, filled with cylinders and dry. Of the advantages, it is worth noting:

• quick drying (in 2-3 hours);
• insensitivity of the liquid foaming form to temperature fluctuations (it can be used at temperatures from -20 to +40 ° C);
• moisture resistance;
• the possibility of using for external and internal coatings;
• stable attachment to any surface.

Bergauf ISOFIX

It is a mineral-cement mixture with added plasticizer, in contact with all surfaces. Can be used for interior and exterior finishing with expanded polystyrene. Since a thin layer is applied, the consumption of glue is moderate - about 5 kg / m²... The diluted mixture remains in plastic for another hour and a half, the fixed plate can be moved in half an hour. The glue is on sale in bags of 25 kg.

Polyurethane

In construction, this type of glue, produced in cylinders, began to be used recently, but has already become in great demand.

Product advantages:

• convenient use, the ability to refuel the assembly gun;
• universal application - the ability to attach expanded polystyrene to any base;
• high degree of binding;
• low price, availability in hardware stores;
• the possibility of using for external and internal finishing works.

PISTOL Tytan Styro 753

High-quality glue from a popular manufacturer perfectly fixes polystyrene foam inside and outside the building. The popularity of adhesive materials in construction is due to many advantages:

• fast drying;
• ease of application;
• immunity to temperature fluctuations;
• solid structure;
• at low price.

TechnoNIKOL

The brand is however little known, the adhesive foam perfectly fixes the expanded polystyrene on a base of brick, plastic, wood. The manufacturer produces formulations for winter and summer use.

Advantages of foaming glue:

• strength;
• immunity to moisture and temperature fluctuations;
• the ability to use on any surface;
• low price.

Penoplex Fastix

The glue, sold in cylinders, effectively attaches polystyrene foam to a concrete, brick or ceramic base. The main advantages of the material are its strength and deep penetration into the structure of the coating. It is impossible to use glue on polyethylene, teflon, bitumen.

Bitumast bituminous adhesive

It is in fact a plaster-glue composition, but enriched with bitumen, which serves as a fixer.

Glue has many advantages:

• firmly holds expanded polystyrene for a long time;
• provides a waterproofing effect;
• easy to prepare without the use of tools, does not require heating;
• thanks to the liquid structure, it is spread in a thin layer and is consumed economically.

The only drawback is that the setting of the composition is slow, so you have to stand for a while, pressing the expanded polystyrene against the wall so that it does not slip.

polyvinyl acetate

The transparent viscous mass, which is polymerized vinyl acetate, is of universal application. The glue is characterized by resistance to rotting and fungal infections.

Moment Joiner

One of the most common brands available in liquid and dry form. At low cost, it is considered high quality.

Benefits of Moment Glue:

• quick fixing;
• immunity to moisture and temperature fluctuations;
• the ability to buy at any hardware store.

PVA-MB

This is not a standard PVA glue, but a strong emulsion with the inclusion of a plasticizer. It doesn't set as quickly as Moment, but it keeps the expanded polystyrene stronger.

Alternative means

Some residents use household adhesives that are not suitable for contact with polystyrene foam. Sometimes it works well, but more often you have to do it again.

Polyurethane foam

The good thing is that it fixes any internal and external material reliably and durably, although it is not intended for expanded polystyrene. Many builders, when attaching insulation, prefer to use polyurethane foam because it:

• easy to use;
• firmly fixed;
• lasts for decades;
• is cheap.

hot melt

This glue is based on compounds of polyamide and ethylene vinyl acetate - components that liquefy when the temperature increases. The composition is suitable for fixing polystyrene foam, but compared to other types of glue, it is expensive, uneconomical and therefore not claimed.

Procedure

The process of attaching foam to building surfaces is simple, it is carried out in several stages.

Surface preparation

The glue is in good contact with a clean, flat surface, therefore, before carrying out work on the foam board and the base, you need to wipe off dirt and dust particles with a dry cloth.

Preparing the glue

It is more convenient to use an assembly gun. A balloon is inserted into it: screw it, fix the handle, point the valve upwards. The gun is held so that its firing hole is not aimed at a nearby person or animal. After screwing the barrel, the gun is shaken and directed towards the surface to be fixed.

Application

To obtain good adhesion, apply the adhesive in an even and thin layer. If a strong bond is not required, it is sufficient to extract several scratches or drops from different places on the plate. If the slab is large, a brush can be used for application.

Bonding

The oiled plate should be left for a few minutes, then applied to the surface, held down for about 20 seconds. In order for the bonding to be strong, the foam must be pressed gently, but with sufficient force.

If the board is uneven, allow 2 minutes before the glue dries to correct its position.

Installation rules

The boards are glued as close as possible to each other. The gap between them should not exceed 2 mm. The foam that emerged after squeezing the expanded polystyrene is cut with a knife.If outdoor work is carried out in winter, the cylinder is immersed in a container with warm water for several minutes or left in a heated room for a few hours.

Premium features for indoor and outdoor use

If it is glued on the outside of the building, mineral inclusion mortar is used. To keep the structure more secure, it is secured with umbrella pegs. For interior decoration, a composition based on polyurethane and polymer is used.

Additional tips and tricks

Experienced builders give the following tips for choosing high-quality glue and carrying out installation work:

1. It is not worth buying a cheap or promotional product. It's probably fake or expired.
2. You should ask the seller for a quality certificate.
3. Store the glue in a dry place, in a hermetically sealed packaging that does not allow moisture to penetrate.
4. Pasted in a ventilated room.
5. Hardened glue becomes unusable. Reconstitution by dilution with water is unnecessary.
6. The burlap is glued to a metal base to improve contact with the insulation.

The glue dries in 5-10 minutes. During this time, the structure should not be touched, so as not to inadvertently break. Otherwise, you will have to redo the job.